Dear Patients, Families and Community:

In an effort to remain connected with you, I am providing you with this week’s update on the status of COVID-19 at Abingdon Health & Rehab Center.

COVID-19
As of the date of this letter, we continue to have no patients or employees that have tested positive for COVID-19. I am pleased to share this positive news with you.

Mitigation
One of the ways we are able to assess our readiness for COVID-19 is through input from the local Health Department and through our state survey process. We have had both a remote and onsite review of our infection prevention and control program and have received no survey deficiencies as a result of these reviews. We have implemented best practices and are utilizing resources provided by CMS, the CDC, and VDH to strengthen our infection prevention program.

Testing
I mentioned last week that I have been in contact with the Virginia National Guard about scheduling point prevalence testing in our center. It has been recommended by the federal and state governments that all skilled nursing and long term care facilities conduct baseline testing for patients and staff. Point Prevalence Surveys (PPS) are conducted to identify the number of people with COVID-19 at a specific point in time and in the case of our center, testing would identify asymptomatic carriers. We believe having this knowledge will help us control the spread of the virus in the center by identifying it early and have worked with the National Guard to schedule PPS testing in the center on July 1st for all patients and staff. Individual test results will be shared with patients and their representatives, followed by a center-wide update using this weekly format. Please let me know if you have any concerns regarding testing.

PPE
Our PPE supply remains adequate and we have immediate access to additional stock should it needed in the event of an outbreak. Our staff have been fit tested for N95 respirators as part of our readiness efforts. We are confident that we have the PPE we need in order to safely care for patients.

Visitation
As we continue to await state guidance for re-opening long term care facilities, we know the first step toward re-introducing visitation into the center is through conducting PPS to assess whether COVID-19 is lying dormant in the center. We recognize that the anticipation of PPS may create additional stress and anxious feelings among patients, staff and family members. We will continue to offer video calls and phone updates on your loved one to keep you informed of any changes in condition or simply to allay your concerns. We are maintaining a positive atmosphere in the center by continuing to offer special events and outdoor activities to patients.

Communication
We have received positive feedback on the digital communication we have provided for the past several weeks. We welcome your feedback and recommendations for how we can improve communication for your family during this unprecedented time.

Thank You
We are grateful for the continued support of families and our community. When you next speak with a staff member, please consider taking a moment to join me in thanking them for the care they are providing during this pandemic.

We have scheduled outdoor visits beginning at 2:00 pm this Sunday, June 21st, in recognition of Father’s Day. If your family has not been contacted, please reach out to the center.

As always, please feel free to reach out to me directly with concerns or questions.

Sincerely,

Stacy Taylor, RN, LNHA
Administrator